2 Division (Nigeria)

The 2 Division, Nigerian Army is a division, active since the Nigerian Civil War. Its headquarters are now at Ibadan in the South-West.^[1] The current and 46th General Officer Commanding is Major General Obinna Onubogu.

Headquarters 2 Division
Soldiers of the 2nd division (leopard on black flag) in Sambisa Forest, 2017.
Active	1967–present
Country	Nigeria
Type	Mechanized Infantry
Role	Combat support
Size	Division
Part of	Nigerian Army
Garrison/HQ	Ibadan, Nigeria
Commanders
General Officer Commanding	Major General Obinna Onubogu
Notable commanders	General Murtala Mohammed General Sani Abacha Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi

Operations

The division is "charged with the responsibility of securing its Area of Responsibility (AOR) covering the South Western flank of Nigeria and also ensuring that the borders located in its AOR are secured.^[1] The division is a mechanized infantry (sic: formation) with affiliated combat support and combat service support units."

At the start of the Nigerian Civil War, the 2 Division was responsible for the beating back of the Biafran Army to the River Niger.^[2]

In 2018, the annual 2 Division Army Inter Brigade Warrant Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers Competition was announced to be held from August 13–17.^[3]

Structure

The division previously included:

• 2 Division Garrison (Ibadan)
• 4 Brigade (Benin City)
• 12 Brigade (Lokoja)
• 19 Battalion (Okitipupa)
• 22 Brigade (Ilorin)
• 32 Artillery Brigade (Abeokuta^[4])
• 42 Brigade (Akure)
• 42 Engineer Brigade (Ibadan)
• 52 Signal Brigade (Ibadan)
• 195 Battalion (Agenebode)

GOCs

• Colonel Murtala Muhammed (1967 – June 1968)
• Brigadier Sani Abacha (January 1984 – August 1985)
• Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi (1996–1997)
• Brigadier General Jude Egbudom (acting) (2015 – 8 July 2016)
• Major General Kasimu Abdulkarim (8 July 2016 – 2017)
• Major General C.M. Abraham (2017 – 16 January 2018)
• Major General Okwudili Fidelis Azinta (16 January 2018 – 23 July 2019)
• Major General Anthony Omozoje (23 July 2019 – 12 March 2021)
• Major General Gold Chibuisi (12 March 2021 – 12 August 2022)
• Major General Aminu Chinade (12 August 2022 – 31 January 2023)^[5][6]
• Major General Mohammed Usman (31 January 2023 – 13 July 2023)
• Major General Valentine Okoro (13 July 2023 – 23 August 2023)
• Major General Bamidele Alabi (23 August 2023 – 14 March 2024)
• Major General Obinna Onubogu (14 March 2024 – present)

References

1. "Headquarters 2 Division | Nigerian Army | Official Website". Archived from the original on 2019-02-03. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
2. Siollun, Max (2009). Siollun, Max. Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture (1966 - 1976). Algora. p. 163. ISBN 9780875867090.
3. "Army holds completion for officers". August 11, 2018.
4. "Home". Thisdayonline.com. Archived from the original on 15 January 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
5. "GOC Assumes Duty at 2 Division Nigerian Army Ibadan - Radio Nigeria Ibadan Zonal Station". radionigeriaibadan.gov.ng. 2022-08-12. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
6. Online, Tribune (2022-08-12). "New GOC 2 Division takes over as outgoing charges soldiers on continuous professionalism". Tribune Online. Retrieved 2023-03-11.